Collection: Clos Siguier

Bagat-en-Quercy, Cahors - 15ha. under vine - Organic viticulture

The Bley family have been on their estate in Bagat-en-Quercy since the late 18th century. Though viticulture only really commenced in the 60s as a business, with Baptiste’s Grandfather, Simon. These were simpler times and the wines followed those times. Things started to change when Gilles took over in 1980. He decided to convert immediately to Organic viticulture. As such he was a pioneer, not just for Cahors but for France. Minimal to no usage of sulphur also followed, this connected the family to some of the great front runners of today’s better farming revolution. The family would travel France’s wine fairs with like-minded producers, like Lapierre, and soon they became friends. When I ask Baptiste where he learnt about wine, he cites these times as his education. Tasting with various family friends and learning from them. Farming has not changed since Gilles’ innovations, the winemaking though has had a few tweaks. These are wines of the region, still maintaining a characterful rusticity and charm. Most of the vineyards are at least 60 years old and situated in the higher hills of the region, around 400m, their soil is also more mineral with large traces of limestone.